Swimming device



Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,467

s. GATES SWIMMING DEVICE Filed Nov. 1, 1927 INVENTOR WH'NESSES w Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,657,467 PATENT OFFICE.

STEVE GATES, F BBADDOCK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 HARRY T.

ZASLAFF, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

Application filed November 1, 1927. Serial No. 230,266.

This invention relates to swimming attachments such as are worn by bathers. It is among the objects of this invention to provide a swimming attachment which shall be adapted to be worn by a bather in a manner to prevent interference with the freedom of arms and leg motion and which shall be adapted to be worn on the part of the body which isleast buoyant and most difficult to to sustain above water.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swimming attachment comprising inflatable tubing which is formed of a onepiece integral member and which is adapted to ektend over a relatively large part of the body of its wearer.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a swimming attachment of the above designated character which shall be of simple and relatively inexpensive construction and which shall be attachable by a single fastening means, and which when in its fastened position, is practically secure against dis lacement.

eretofore various forms of swimming attachments such as swimming belts, water wings or the like have been proposed and it has also been suggested to insert inflatable members in bathing suits and bathing trunks. All of these devices serve the purose for which they are intended but are ound to be deficient in many respects, particularly in the manner in which the body is supported which in most instances is incon- 5 sistent with the proper swimming position, or in that they produce extreme resistance to movement of the body through the water, thus making it difficult for the wearer to acquire the ability to swim.

in accordance with the present invention, a swimming attachment comprising a onepiece inflatable tubing is formed toconstitute a belt portion adapted .to encircle the body of the wearer at the midsection and a' a5 plurality of leg portions encircling the legs at or near the swinmming trunks, and a connecting portion joining the belt and leg portions, which extends at or near the sides of the body, all of which portions are inflataso ble by a singlevalve and constitute an integral member which may be worn over top of any of the well known types of bathing suits.

lln the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof and in which like reference characters designate like parts, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the application of a swinm'iing attachment embodying the principles of this invention; Fig. 2 an elevational view of the swimming attachment and Figs. 3 and 4 are a side elevational view and a top plan view respectively illustrating the buckle and strap members by means of which the device is attached to the body of the wearer.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawing, 1 illustrates the waist or belt portion of the swimming device which comprises an inflatable tube having a buckle portion 2 and a strap portion 3 joined/in the manner illustrated in *igs. 3 and 4 by attaching the same to the body of the wearer as illustrated in Fig. 1. A pair of side portions 4: are joined integrally with the waist portion 1 and also with a pair of leg portions 5, the members 4 being so joined to members 1 and 5 as to constitute the inflatable member a one-piece communicating tube which is inflatable throu h a valve 6 which is illustrated in detail in ig. 3 wherein it is shown as controlling a passage 7 that leads to the inflatable body of the swimming device.

The inflatable tube or bodyportion may be made of any suitable fabric, such as rubberized cloth or rubber tubing, such as are well known in the art, and may be housed in a jacket of fabric to provide foruniform inflation along the entire portion of the device.

As shown in Fig. 1 the swimming device is attached by stepping into the leg portions 5 and securing the waist portion 1 by fastening the strap 3 in the buckle 2. When attached the device is held in its proper position since theleg portions 5 prevent upward movement and the belt portion 1 is of lesser dimension than the hips of the wearer, whereby downward movement is prevented.

In Fig. 1 the side portions 4 are illustrated as being substantially at the sides but it is obvious that they may be located at the front or rear as well as the sides or a plurality of such connecting portions 4may be employed.

It is evident from the foregoing description of this invention that swimming attachments made in accordance therewith comprise a simple and efficient device for use by bathers which will materially aid in floating the body on the water and it is further evifill dent that the attachment is adapted to be so W located on the body as to support the same in proper swimming position.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the principles herein set forth.

I claim:

1. A swimming device comprising inflatable tubing formed to constitute a belt and leg encircling portions and having connecting portions formed integrally therewith.

2. A swimming device comprising inflatable tubing formed to constitute a belt and leg encircling portions and having connecting portions formed integrally therewith, all of said portions being joined to constitute a unitary inflatable element.

3. A swimming device as set forth in claim 2 which is adapted to be attached by a single fastening means.

4. A swimming device comprising inflatable tubing formed to constitute a belt and leg encircling portions having connecting portions adapted to hold the same in proper spaced relation.

5. A swimming device comprising inflatable tubing made to constitute a belt and leg encircling portions having connecting portions adu ted to hold the same in proper spaced re ation, all of said portions having connecting passages whereby they are constituted a unitary inflatable member and having a single valve passage by means of which the device may be inflated.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

STEVE GATES. 

